A quick guide to who’s running in the Charlotte City Council at-large primary
A dozen Democrats are running for Charlotte’s four at-large seats on the city council, the most ever in the race. The four candidates who receive the most votes in the Sept. 15 primary will advance to the fall general election.
Here’s a quick look at each of the candidates in the primary, as well as links to profiles about each of the hopefuls and their responses to an Observer questionnaire about their views on city issues.
[Related: Charlotte mayoral primary at-a-glance | City Council district races at-a-glance | Voter Guide]
Laurence Bibbs
Hometown: Toledo
Family: Married; two children
Occupation: Technical analyst for Carolinas HealthCare System.
Political experience: First run for office.
Campaign contact: laurencebibbs.wordpress.com; on Facebook; 704-977-7359 or John Davis 704-858-4813
Profile: Laurence Bibbs cites ‘fresh perspective’ in bid for city council
Q&A: Read his views on city issues, priorities
Darrell Bonapart
Hometown: Charlotte
Family: Married, two children.
Occupation: Senior consultant, Reverse Mortgage Solutions
Political experience: This is his fifth run for council.
Community: Officer and former chair, Charlotte East Community Partners; board, Charlotte Chamber East Chapter, 2008-2010; Zoning Board of Adjustment, 2000-2003.
Profile: Darrell Bonapart advocates for east, west sides in bid
Bruce Clark
Hometown: Libertyville, Ill.
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Family: Wife, Abby.
Occupation: Digital inclusion project manager at Queens University of Charlotte.
Political experience: Ran Anthony Foxx’s 2009 mayoral campaign; Campaign manager, U.S. Senate candidate Ken Lewis, 2010; Deputy regional field director, Barack Obama, 2008.
Campaign contact: votebruceclark.com; bruce@votebruceclark; on Facebook; on Twitter; on Instagram; 980-349-8444;
Profile: Bruce Clark to focus on economic mobility in bid
Q&A: Read his views on city issues, priorities
Julie Eiselt
Hometown: Elm Grove, Wis.
Neighborhood: Myers Park
Family: Husband, 3 children
Occupation: Formerly in international finance for the Bank of America.
Political experience: First run for office.
Community service: Includes the board of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation, Latin American Coalition; HopeSpring mentoring program for college-bound adjudicated youth; Urban Ministries- Room In The Inn program; Crisis Assistance Ministries WISH team, helping a homeless family transition to stability; Barringer Elementary ESL program (reading tutor); Tutor for Hispanic teens; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public School Friends
Campaign contact: www.JulieEiselt.com; votejulieeiselt@gmail.com; on Facebook; on Twitter; 980-349-8683;
Profile: Julie Eiselt cites anti-crime efforts in bid
Q&A: Read her views on city issues, priorities
Claire Green Fallon
Hometown: Spring Valley, N.Y.
Neighborhood: University
Family: Widowed; three children, four grandchildren.
Occupation: Former interior designer; former chairwoman of a New York Montessori school
Political experience: At-large City Council, 2011-present.
Campaign contact: re-electclairegreenfallon.com; on Facebook; Greg Amick, gamick35@att.net or 704-281-1455;
Profile: Claire Fallon pushes for public safety in re-election bid
Q&A: Read her views on city issues, priorities
Sean Gautam
Hometown: Kanpur, India
Neighborhood: Fairmeadows
Family: Wife, two children
Education: Masters of Law, Georgetown University Law School, 2000; MBA, University of New Orleans, 1997, Bachelor of Commerce (1990) and Bachelor of Laws (1993), Delhi University.
Occupation: Founder, Investment Manager, PortfolioPro, LLC
Political experience: First run for office.
Community service: Business Advisory Committee; Charlotte International Cabinet; Charlotte Chamber’s Legislative Agenda Task Force and Education and Workforce Development Committee.
Work Experience: Served as the Chief Financial Officer of a national financial consulting firm in the DC area with FORTUNE 500 clients. Started with the firm as a junior Financial Analyst and worked up to the CFO position within a few years. Worked in DC for 10 years and earned my law degree from Georgetown Law School while working full time. Relocated to Charlotte to become a U.S. citizen in 2008 and to launch my own financial services firm. Founded an investment advisory firm providing retirement and financial planning to middle-class families.
Campaign contact: www.sean4CLT.com; sean4CLT@gmail.com; on Facebook; 704-430-8277
Profile: Sean Gautam cites civic experience in run
Q&A: Read his views on city issues, priorities
Shawn Greeson
Hometown: Grew up in foothills in Georgia mountain; lived in Charlotte for nine years
Neighborhood: Plaza-Midwood
Political Experience: Currently Serving As An Elected Mecklenburg County Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor (Nonpartisan); Mecklenburg County Democratic Party Precinct Delegate; Mecklenburg County Democratic Party Executive Committee Member; African American Caucus Member; NAACP Member; Grassroots Activist & Community Organizer
Work Experience: Special Education Teacher & School Administrator
Campaign contact: www.shawngreeson.com; shawngreeson@shawngreeson.com; on Facebook personal page; on Campaign page
Profile: Shawn Greeson focuses on environment, poverty in run
Q&A: Read his views on city issues, priorities
Mo Idlibby
Hometown: Born in Columbus, Ohio; raised in Charlotte
Neighborhood: Old Stone Crossing
Family: Wife, one daughter
Education: B.A. from Davidson College, J.D. from Charlotte School of Law
Occupation: Trial attorney
Political experience: Hasn’t held elected office; this is first time running.
Community work: Served on Immigrant Integration Task Force; served on National Board of Director of the Syrian-American Coalition; served on Latin American Coalition.
Campaign Contact: www.Mo4Charlotte.com; Mo@Mo4Charlotte.com; on Facebook; on Twitter; 704-375-1022
Profile: Mo Idlibby cites legal experience in bid
Q&A: Read his views on city issues, priorities
Vi Lyles
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Neighborhood: SouthPark
Political Experience: Current At-Large City Council Member
Family: I was with my late husband John Lyles of 17 years, have four children: Aisha, 32; Kwame, 35; Sean, 44; and John, 46.
Work Experience: City Council Transportation and Planning Committee, Chair; City Council Economic Development & Global Competitiveness, Co-Chair; City Council Budget Committee, Member; Vi Lyles Consulting, President; Flynn Heath Holt, Consulting Director; The Lee Institute, Director; Former Assistant City Manager of Charlotte; Former City of Charlotte Budget Director
Campaign contact: votevialexanderlyles.com; votevilyles@gmail.com; on Facebook; on Twitter
Profile: Vi Lyles cites experience with city, council in bid to retain seat
Q&A: Read her views on city issues, priorities
Billy Maddalon
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Family: Engaged to be married. Has three adopted children, one foster child.
Occupation: Hotelier, owner of Morehead Inn and Van Landingham Estate
Political experience: Charlotte City Council District 1, 2013; past board member for Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
Community service: Co-chair of Eastland Area Strategies Team; a founder of Communities United for Action; past member of Board of Trustees at Meredith College; served on the Alexander Youth Network Board
Campaign contact: www.billymaddalon.com; billy@moreheadinn.com; on Facebook; 980-721-1431;
Profile: Billy Maddalon said LGBT vote spurred him to run
Q&A: Read his views on city issues, priorities
James Mitchell
Family: Married, two daughters
Education: N.C. Central University, degree in business administration
Occupation: Barton Malow construction, director of business development
Political experience: Charlotte City Council, 1999-2013; President of National League of Cities 2011.
Community work: Former vice chair of Black Political Caucus; board member of Police Activities League; board member of Men Who Care Global; former president of Save the Seed.
Profile: James ‘Smuggie’ Mitchell to focus on sustainable neighborhoods
Q&A: Read his views on city issues, priorities
Aaron Sanders
Neighborhood: Oaklawn Park
Family: Single
Occupation: 26 years working in telecommunications and financial services; writer and community leader
Political experience: Delegate to 2012 Democratic National Convention; ran for City Council District 2 in 2009
Community work: Former president Oaklawn Park Neighborhood Improvement Association; city food truck advisory group; cable access citizens oversight committee; information technology advisory committee
Campaign contact: voteforaaronsanders@gmail.com; 980-208-0670
Profile: Aaron Sanders would focus on services
Q&A: Read his views on city issues, priorities
Compiled by April Bethea, abethea@charlotteobserver.com.
This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "A quick guide to who’s running in the Charlotte City Council at-large primary."